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Who’s Next at the IMF?

Now that Strauss-Kahn has resigned, the IMF needs a new director. Traditionally, the job has gone to a European, but since quota weights were realigned last year, it’s possible that the new boss may come from outside Europe.

I will go ahead and take a flyer no Kemal Dervis, on account of being both European and non-European, and well regarded for his work in Turkey and the international arena. Other ideas?

About Doug Merrill

Freelance journalist based in Tbilisi, following stints in Atlanta, Budapest, Munich, Warsaw and Washington. Worked for a German think tank, discovered it was incompatible with repaying US student loans. Spent two years in financial markets. Bicycled from Vilnius to Tallinn. Climbed highest mountains in two Alpine countries (the easy ones, though). American center-left, with strong yellow dog tendencies. Arrived in the Caucasus two weeks before its latest war.

4 thoughts on “Who’s Next at the IMF?”

He (Kemal DERVIS) is definitely the most QUALIFIED CANDIDATE for the JOB.

Yes, he says “he’s not in the running”…. but do not take this literally ….
This is a virtue, a reflection of the “oriental” culture and wisdom, being “humble” and peaceful… You do not ASK for a job…. You just don’ FIGHT for it at all prices either.

You “accept” a job, a duty, a responsibility and you will ldedicate your whole self, in order to fulfill, meet the requirements and all the responsibility of this job. To live up to the expectations of, and not deceive the people who have offered the POSITION. He will do whatever it takes…

This also is a very cruicial virtue for which DERVIS must be offered the POSITION, if the “authorities” (or electors) SINCERELY wish IMF, to really be “MULTI-CULTURAL” and a “non-PARTISAN” impartial INSTITUTION. Not to neglect of course a MOST SUCCESFUL one as well (in view of the professional education, knowledge, and experience, Mr. DERVIS has accumulated over the years at similar POSITIONS) especially the the ground work, and financial reforms he has initiated, as Turkish vice-prime Minister in the early 2000′s … Which has jump-started the ailing and sick economy then, to What it TODAY…
The groundwork he laid down, and the MOMENTUM in Turkey, has brought he Turkish Economy among the top 16 economies in the world today… with the highest growt rate among the EU, and all OECD economies

I sincerely hope that Kemal DERVIS is duly OFFERED the POSITION, without further delays, and he DOES humbly ACCEPT it ….

Highly implausible, though. North America can’t be it, because it’s already got the World Bank spot. That leaves Asia.

Well, if you are looking for international bankers from the public sector, Asia is the wrong place to look. There’s simply not a very strong tradition of international finance there, and the one plausible nation, Japan, has traditionally had such problems with conventional international finance that it would just be not worth it.

(Someone from Singapore or Hong Kong could presumably do it, but again implausible.)